"All rise," says the bailiff. "General court-martial is in session. The Honorable Jaquan Thompson, Captain, United Nations Spacy, presiding.
Thompson sits at the judge's bench. "this court-martial has reached a verdict," he says. "Will the defendant please rise?"
Commander Arihiso Hamato stands up. His heart rate increases. He looks at the judge right at the eyes.
"On the charge and specification of the manslaughter of Lieutenant Hyun Seuk, this court-martial finds you not guilty," says Captain Thompson.
Hamato exhales, feeling as if a great crushing weight was lifted from his entire being. Mr. and Mrs. Seuk just stare, silently.
"On the charge and specification of dereliction of duty in sending unqualified pilots to live exercises, this court-martial finds you not guilty," continues Thompson. "On the charge and specification of falsifying military reports, this court-martial finds you guilty. On the charge and specification of falsifying military records regarding the performance of your former students, this court-martial finds you guilty. On the charge of specification of perjury in sending falsified documents to the Commission of Inquiry, this court-martial finds you guilty. Thus is the verdict."
"Your Honor, the defense respectfully request expedited sentencing," says Lieutenant Commander Sari Priyatosh.
"the UEF has no objection, sir," says Lieutenant Commander Michael Sarakian.
"I do prefer expedited sentencing," says the judge. He looks at Commander Hamato. "Personally, I would like to lock you away for years for killing Hyun Seuk. I would like to forfeit one year of all pay and allowances I would like to sentence you to a dishonorable discharge.
"But this court-martial must issue judgments and orders based upon law, precedent, testimony, and evidence, not by the personal preferences and feelings of some poor sap who happens to sit on this bench. This court-martial has concluded that the evidence and testimony does not prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you had committed manslaughter, and so this court-martial can not consider your role in Lieutenant Seuk's death.
"However, to sentence you for perjury and falsifying records and reports, this court-martial can consider Lieutenant Seuk's death as an aggravating factor, due to your offenses being committed in the context of the investigation of a person's death, an investigation which has a greater need for truth than investigating who drew an ugly caricature of the captain on the bulkhead of the mess hall.
"This court-martial must, of course, also consider mitigating circumstances. And not just the circumstances surrounding your crimes, but your outstanding military service record prior to your offense.
"As such, this court-martial sentences you, Arihiso Hamato, to be reduced in rank to lieutenant commander and sixty days' forfeiture of pay. The verdict and sentences shall be submitted to the convening authority forthwith. Court-martial is adjourned and you, Commander Hamato, are free to go."
Captain Thompson bangs the wooden gavel.
"Let's go," Commander Priyatosh says to her client. As she walks, Roy Hunter stands up, supporting himself with his walking canes.
"Commander," he says. "Congratulations, ma'am. Your argued a compelling case. I...agree with the verdict."
"Thank you, Mr. Hunter," she replies.
Roy turns away. Hamato stops and looks at the young man who had been his student.
Roy continues to look away. After about seven seconds, the commander leaves the courtroom with his attorney.
Oooooo
It was a big day at the United Earth Forces Academy. Well over one thousand cadets attended, wearing their gray uniforms. The United Earth Forces Academy band played their instruments. Each of the cadets line up. Their names are called, and then they received a white scroll of paper from a general or flag officer from the service that they were commissioned in. Memories of four years arise in the surface of the minds of these newly-commissioned officers, who will be leaders in the five services that will conduct search and rescue, piracy suppression..and to be eternally vigilant. The superintendent of the academy, who was an Ocean Patrol vice admiral, stressed how the price of peace was eternal vigilance.
Third Lieutenant Roy Hunter and the other newly-graduated cadets cheered. This was an ending, and a new beginning. He and the other cadets then walked to a section of the stadium reserved for guests.
The guests were all dressed in their best attire, the sort of attire workers wear when going to the office of a bank headquarters. Some of the guests wore dress uniforms of their respective services. Roy soon found his parents, both dressed in Spacy dress whites.
He saluted his parents, who were both admirals, and they returned his salute.
"Congratulations, Lieutenant Hunter," said his father.
"Congratulations, Lieutenant Hunter," said his mother.
Max and Miriya Sterling were there, also in their white dress uniforms.
"Congratulations, Roy," said Max.
"Figured we might stop by to see you and your parents before we go to America and see our grandkids," said Miriya.
"I know we have our little private celebration," said the newly-commissioned lieutenant, "got to say goodbye to my old classmates."
And so he did, speaking to some of the other graduated cadets, saying hi to their families.
"Congratulations, Roy," said Third Lieutenant Hyun Seuk.
"Congratulations, Hyun," replied Roy.
Hyun looked and saw Roy's parents. She had seen them only in pictures, video recordings, and a live speech that his father gave on campus. The newly-commissioned lieutenant saluted.
"Third Lieutenant Hyun Seuk, United Nations Spacy, newly commissioned from the United Earth Forces Academy, awaiting her next assignment, sir," she said.
"Admiral of the Space and Sea Fleets, General of the Armies, Air Forces, and Space Marine Forces Richard S. Hunter, on leave from his post as Supreme Commander of the United Earth Forces," said Roy's father.
"Admiral Elizabeth Juliet Hayes-Hunter, retired, United Nations Spacy," said Roy's mother. "Congratulations on your graduation from this Academy, Lieutenant Seuk.
Hyun smiled. Memories arose in her mind. She recalled the tough physical training and the chores and the classes, all of the various activities to foster esprit de corps, playing sports, the training cruises in deep space, her having to administer physical training to lowerclassmen, her having to babysit lowerclassmen as they did their chores, her internship with Lieutenant General Jack Emerson, her basic space aviator flight training, the various military balls, hearing speeches from Medal of Honor recipients
She looked forward to spending some time with her family and some of her childhood friends in Korea, reacquaint herself with the familiar for a while. And then after that, the real training would begin.
The future was open to her, to Roy, and to the rest of the graduating class.
Ooooo
" I do solemnly swear to uphold the laws and judgments of the United Nations General Assembly, to obey the lawful orders of the Secretary General of the United Nations and those officers appointed over me, and to faithfully execute the duties of any and all posts without hesitation or reservation, so help me God," says Second Lieutenant Roy Hunter of the United Nations Spacy , holding up his right hand.
"Congratulations," says the U.N. Spacy captain, dressed in dress whites like the other Spacy officers. "You are now judge advocates."
Roy looks around the quad, which is surrounded by brick buildings and is under a blue sky with cumulocirrus clouds. It is mid-afternoon. Today is commencement day at Columbia University, located on an island called Manhattan, in a city called New York city, on the planet Earth. Among the ceremonies are the graduation ceremonies for newly-minted juris doctorates from Columbia Law School, the oldest continuously-operating law school on Earth, founded long before the first of the Robotech Wars. While almost all of the juris doctorates had gone on to greet family and friends, these particular graduates had gone on to this ceremony to be formally commissioned as officers in the five services of the United Earth Forces, to serve as judge advocates who would administer military law.
Holding one cane, Roy walks out and meets his parents, as well as some family friends like Mr. and Mrs. Katsulas, and more. He salutes his parents, and they return his salute
"Congratulations, son," says his father, wearing dress whites.
"thanks, Dad," he replies.
"So the courtroom will be your battlefield," says his mother.
"Actually, Mom, judge advocates usually try to negotiate deals, but that's not always possible."
"Your dad and I understand that concept all too well."
The new judge advocate recalls his first day at Columbia Law School. He recalls the lectures, both in classroom and online, reading books and e-books on various legal topics, late nights studying, all the test-taking, all the writing of essays. On top of that was his physical therapy- the leg braces only came off for good last year- as well as a part-time job, as he could not devote time to both his legal studies and flying cargo ships across the Milky Way, but still wanted to earn some money. And of course there had been specialized classes in United Earth Forces law.
And even among that, more had happened.
He looks at Mr. and Mrs. Seuk, who traveled from Korea to New York to attend the commissioning ceremony.
"Hyun would have wanted to be here," says Mrs. Seuk.
"We will see the sights of New York," says Mr. Seuk.
"Thanks for coming," says Roy.
He then looks and sees Commander Sari Priyatosh. She wears a white peaked cap, a white blouse with brass buttons, and a white skirt. On each shoulderboard are three one-inch stripes, in contrast with the one one-inch stripe and one half-inch stripe on Roy's own shoulderboards. Medals pinned to her blouse tell the story of her service; she has quite a few more medals than the three Lieutenant Hunter wears.
Roy makes a salute.
"Congratulations on becoming a judge advocate, Lieutenant Hunter," says the commander.
"Thank you, ma'am," replies Roy.
"What will you do, Hunter?"
Roy embraces a comely young woman, wearing a sun dress and a straw hat on her head, and gives her a kiss. "I will marry the love of my life," he says. "Our wedding na dour honeymoon will be at this oceanfront resort on this planet called Ragna. The resort has three swimming pools, a ten thousand square meter casino, the finest restaurants, and clubs. We will have thirty days to know each other as husband and wife."
"Maybe we will see the jellyfish rise form the sea," says his fiance.
"I am happy for you, Roy," says Commander Priyatosh, looking at the young man in his crips dress whites. "After you are done enjoying your new bride, the instant you report to my office for duty is the instant you start working to the bone. Understand, Lieutenant?"
"Ma'am, aye aye, ma'am!" snaps Roy Hunter.